66th Artists & Writers Softball Game

It is one of the oldest charitable events in the Hamptons with a celebrity line up over the years that would rival the toniest of Hampton galas, but with a dress code of sneakers, tee shirts and baseball caps. Yes, it is time for the 66th Annual Artists & Writers Softball Game!

This year the big game is on Saturday, August 16th, 2:00 p.m. at Herrick Park in East Hampton Village with batting practice starting at noon. Among those stepping up to the plate are NY Daily News columnist and best-selling author Mike Lupica, New Yorker writer and best seller Ken Auletta, NY Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman, Today Show host Matt Lauer, Steve Jobs’ biographer Walter Isaacson, East End artist Eric Ernst, NY Rangers’ Rod Gilbert, actress Lori Singer, actors Josh Charles and Ed Burns, Born to Explore host Richard Weise, former MLB slugger Jim Leyritz, former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, Michael Gaston of HBO’s Leftovers, sportswriter Tom Verducci and many more.

In the broadcast booth behind the backstop will be 1010 WINS’ Juliet Papa, Inside the Actors Studio host James Lipton and Twitter TV chief Fred Graver announcing the play-by-play, color commentary and raffle prizes. All are welcome to watch the game and there is a suggested donation of $10 at the gate.

This year again all proceeds will go to support local charities including the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center, Phoenix House Academy, East End Hospice and The Retreat. The fundraising is in full swing and you can be part of it! Go to
Paddle8.com August 1-15
(http://paddle8.com/auctions/artistsandwriters) and CharityBuzz.com August 6-27 (http://www.charitybuzz.com/support/ArtistsWriters) for high-end and art auction items, passes for the Hamptons International Film Festival, golf packages at Friars Head, Shinnecock, Maidstone and The Bridge, skiing in Tahoe, cocktails at the Empire State Building, lunches with Richard Reeves, Lawrence O’Donnell, Jay McInerney, Susan Lacy, Hamptons Classic VIP passes, art by Domingo Zapata and hockey with Rod Gilbert, among numerous other fabulous auction items.

If you would rather bid in person, have we got a party for you! The First Pitch Cocktail Party and Auction is the night before game day on Friday, August 15, 6-8:30 p.m. at LTV Studios in East Hampton and it will be a blast. There will be fabulous food and drink, a special performance by Mary Fahl, formerly of October Project and you will have an opportunity to meet some of the players while bidding on the auction items. Tickets are $40 in advance at LTVeh.org and $50 at the door. This year’s Artists and Writers exhibition is August 9 – 17 at the Glenn Horowitz Gallery in East Hampton with a reception on August 14, 5-7p.m. 20% of the sales proceeds will go to support the Artists & Writers Softball Game charities.

Hamptons.com is a proud Grand Slam Media Sponsor of the Artists & Writers Softball Game and we encourage all East Enders to support this historic and iconic Hamptons event. Ticket donations are only $10 at the game and the proceeds from the game, cocktail party and auction go to support local human need related charities. Play ball!!!

Mort Zuckerman and Carl Bernstein with former President Bill Clinton who dropped by last year’s 65th Annual Artists & Writers Game. (Courtesy photo)